‘I retired early for life after athletics’

By PARKER TAMBUA
FORMER Pacific Games gold medalist Takale Tuna says he is looking forward to being the special guest for next Saturday’s SP Sports Awards, of which The National is the official newspaper.
The 59-year-old, from Matupit in Rabaul, East New Britain, grew up playing rugby league and softball before he became a sprinter.
“It started when I did Grade 7 at Boisen High School in Rabaul in the early 1980s,” the former Papua New Guinea sprint champion told The National during Wednesday’s announcement of the finalists for all 12 awards.
“That’s when we had school carnivals and I was doing Grades 7 to 10 at Boisen.
“I played different sports like rugby league and softball growing up, but it was at Boisen that I took running seriously.
“When I went to Kerevat National High School to do my Grade 11 in 1984, there was a junior championships held at the National Sports Institute in Goroka.
“I was selected to attend the championships and we were competing against a group of American college students who came for a visit.
“It was there that I caught the eyes of national selectors at the age of 19.
“I was selected to represent PNG in the Pacific School Games that were held at the end of 1984 and that was where I hit the limelight.
“I won PNG’s first medal in the Games.

“ I was given the opportunity to lead our sprint team in 1991 and we won every sprint event”

“In 1985, I was pushed to the senior level and competed in the national championships.
“I didn’t do too well but it was enough as I was selected for the 1985 Mini South Pacific Games in Raratonga, Cook Islands, where I won gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m.”
Tuna reached his peak in 1987 when he earned selection for the South Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia.
“I won two gold and as many silver in the Noumea Games. The gold were in the 200m and 400m, and silver were in the 100m and 4x100m relay.
“I was the only PNG athlete who won gold in the Noumea Games.
“I held the PNG and Pacific Games records after that event.”
Tuna maintained his form and earned selection again to lead the national sprint team in the 1991 South Pacific Games in Port Moresby.
He said running in front of his home crowd at Sir John Guise Stadium was a highlight of his career.
“I was given the opportunity to lead our sprint team in 1991 and we won every sprint event,” Tuna said.
“In the 100m, I was beaten by fellow PNG runner Ezekiel Wartovo and I settled for silver.
“For the 400m, I was beaten again by another PNG runner, Subul Babo, and settled for silver.
“But in the 200m, I didn’t want my fellow PNG sprinters to beat me and I won gold.
“I also won gold in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
“Winning the medals on home soil was one of my most memorable moments.”